Tea Bird

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll Dies

Our Lt. Governor, Catherine Baker Knoll, has died following her battle with cancer.
Key facts:
· 1930-2008, of McKees Rocks
· Sworn in Jan. 21, 2003
· 30th lieutenant governor
· First elected female Lt. Governor
· St. Mary’s High School alumnus
· Served eight years as state treasurer, winning huge % of statewide vote
· Formerly schoolteacher, businesswoman
· Had four children with [...]

Pittsburgh jobless rate drops in September

Some more good local economic news:

The Pittsburgh region added 7,000 new jobs year-over-year in September, and saw its unemployment rate drop to 5.4 percent, the state reported Tuesday.

Police, Community Leaders Battle Youth Violence With Peaceful Events - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh

Unfortunately, crime in Pittsburgh is not all about political hoaxes. The city’s police and community leaders
From are teaming up to try to deal with it through fun activities aimed at kids:

Before the end of 2008, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office says more than 100 young people will have been killed in the county [...]

AirTran expresses concern over fee increases at Pittsburgh International

From the Post-Gazette:

Another airline is objecting to the big fee increases being proposed at Pittsburgh International Airport next year to offset the effects of fewer flights, particularly by US Airways.

Free concert at Heinz Field for Obama supporters

Free music and hot dogs for Obama supporters! Is this a sign of things to come?

Supporters and campaign workers for Sen. Barack Obama are being invited to Heinz Field tomorrow night for a free Get Out The Vote concert featuring local artists Rusted Root.
An Obama campaign spokeswoman said the pep rally, which is intended [...]

Pittsburgh’s National Aviary Expansion Plans Revealed

After 9 years, Pittsburgh’s National Aviary’s expansion plans will begin to be implemented this Spring. The
From Trib has details:

An indoor free-flight bird theater and an open-air rooftop theater for birds-of-prey highlight the long-awaited $23-million expansion plans the National Aviary revealed this morning.
…
The rooftop raptor theater will be 66 feet in diameter, according to [...]

Erosion Could Cause Allegheny River Dam To Fail

We really could use a big infrastructure investment around Pittsburgh. These locks & dams are 75 years old and a vital, if often unseen, component of our local infrastructure.

The Army Corps of Engineers says a dam on the Allegheny River in western Pennsylvania is so eroded it could fail if it is hit [...]

MSA sales highest in company’s history

My family has a long and largely happy history with MSA, and it’s good to hear some positive economic news for a change these days:

Safety products maker Mine Safety Appliances said its third-quarter sales were the highest in the company’s 94-year history, with profits jumping 75 percent, excluding a one-time gain a year ago.

Central Catholic Football Players Dies

Tragic, absolutely tragic:

A high school football player who suffered an apparent stroke has died.
Kyle Wilson, 17, collapsed Thursday night while attending the McKeesport-Gateway game as a fan.
Teammates and friends kept a vigil at Children’s Hospital throughout the weekend but Wilson died late last night.

Neighbors Protest Proposed Strip Club In Pittsburgh’s West End

Good to hear that community involvement and grassroots activism are alive in the West End of Pittsburgh:

Dozens of concerned and angry residents packed the West End/Elliott Citizens Council meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed strip club in Pittsburgh’s West End.
Owner Patrick Risha was grilled about his plans to turn a vacant building [...]